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Ontario votes wisely

Premier Kathleen Wynne takes to the stage at a post-election rally in Toronto after winning a majority in last week's election. (Steve Russell / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Sat., June 21, 2014

Political stripes aside, Ontario (population 13.5 million) elected the first gay premier in Canada. Other than Iceland (population 300,000), no other people has elected a gay leader.

The fact that Kathleen Wynne’s sexuality was not even an issue throughout the campaign speaks to the equity and inclusivity Ontario offers. What a place for gay people to grow up in.

And yet, despite living in one of the most gay-friendly places on earth, I learned being gay was wrong long before I learned it wasn’t. Still today slurs are thrown my way by strangers, words are chosen carefully in new social settings, and there is the perpetual evaluation of every person I come in contact with, a super-subconscious Gestalt judgment about how welcoming they would be if they “could tell.” Like the annoying buzz-hum of a wonky fluorescent bulb, barely noticeable, but oh so persistent.

The constant stress that we face here, rarely acknowledged because it shames us that we can’t just accept ourselves, cannot compare to what people feel elsewhere. Minority stress affects me, and surely as an Ontarian I have it better than nearly everyone else.

So while I offer Ms Wynne and all of Ontario accolades for making history and demonstrable progress, I pause to think of the rest of the world, and check my privilege. If anything, it recommits me to spread the amazing agency I have as a gay person in Ontario with those elsewhere and take nothing for granted.

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Blair Bigham, Toronto

The quote by Doug Holyday clearly explains why the Tories are in the mess that they are in. Holyday said, “It was our policy we couldn’t explain as well as we should have. They were able to misconstrue it and convince a majority of voters that what we were doing was horrible.”

As a voter I needed no convincing that this was a horrible plan. I knew instantly it spelled disaster for the public — me. That Holyday still cannot see that after the election results is astounding and baffling.

Voters are not stupid. But the Conservatives are mean-spirited and unbending on meeting the needs of all voters not just the rich. That is the perception they present and that is why the election went as it did.

We need politicians with a heart and intelligent ideas not hard core, nasty policies at the expense of progressive measures.

Fernanda Caranfa, Woodbridge

The politics of hope and belief that government can work for the people, i.e. pensions for people who don’t have one. Full-day kindergarten so mothers can work all day, keeping the credit for seniors trying to safely be able to remain in their homes. The absolute collapse of the Tea Party mentality that lower taxes create jobs. Canadians have finally realized that lower taxes only take money away from services that we need.

Congratulations to Ontario.

Dorothy McWhirter, Toronto

I was disappointed to read that the prime minister has not called the premier of the largest province in the country to offer congratulations on winning the recent Ontario election. Regardless of partisan politics wouldn’t it have been helpful if he had called and said, “Let’s get together and talk about what we can do for the people of Ontario and Canada.”

Bill Wensley, Cobourg

The current Tory frenzy feeding on the still warm Hudak carcass confirms the electorate’s concerns about the Tories. Ever since the Tories across the land renounced the progressive balance to conservative excesses they have campaigned with stick and carrot — fear and greed — and then governed with books of matches.

Within their tattered tent of hubris, the Tories have come to believe what they continually tell us, many variations of “night is day!” As a result, Tories can no longer see themselves as others see them, as they really are.

They still have the matches.

Ian McCallum, Richmond Hill

Thanks to Heather Mallick for her very perceptive June 16 column on the lessons from the provincial election.

She is absolutely right that the people of Ontario are done with the angry, divisive politicking of the provincial Progressive Conservative party. Ontarians – including our members – know how much regular people are suffering. The prospect of four years of a PC provincial government with job and service cuts and watching private corporations take billions more out of the provincial was just too much to vote for.

As president of the Ontario Nurses’ Association, the union representing registered nurses and allied health professionals in the province, I am still reading reports that PC party members blame unions for their loss. I make no apologies for advocating for a high-quality health care system and patient care.

Perhaps the PCs would be better served by asking themselves if there are policies they could endorse that would actually be beneficial to working people, rather than enrich their corporate friends while condemning working people to poverty.

As Heather Mallick so elegantly points out, Ontario is not Idaho, and Ontarians are “good and smart.”

Linda Haslam-Stroud, President, Ontario Nurses’ Association

Interesting that the Progressive Conservatives blame being honest with the voters as the reason for their election downfall. I guess it’s back to the old “hidden agenda” strategy.

Terry Kushnier, Scarborough

Historical precedence dictated that the Liberals would be thrown out of office both because of the length of incumbency and past “scandals.” The fact that this did not happen was undoubtedly due to the leadership of Kathleen Wynne.

The results from this election show the Ontario electorate acted in a thoughtful way. This was an act of faith, Kathleen. So, appoint a strong and competent cabinet, listen to the opinions of caucus and heed the voices of those who did not vote for you in rural and northern regions of the province.

And, don’t let us down.

Ron Gibbens, Richmond Hill

Although Premier Wynne’s commitment to an open and inclusive Ontario was affirmed in the recent election, as someone living in this province and supporting the Liberals, I worry that the party will only go so far as to support its own definition of “open” and “inclusive.” If Mr. Siddiqui’s comment on the minority make up of the GTA is heeded by our premier starting now, then I expect the Liberal party to get a facelift before the next election. It is paramount for the party to reach out to the minority not just for financial support and votes, but also for representation in this open and inclusive province.

Yaseen Zubairi, Toronto

Was wondering if Ms Wynne thought to send Ms Horwath a flower and a thank you note for bringing her from minority to majority status? Without her the change would not have happened. Polite thing to do, is it not?

John M. Ward, Havelock

According to Peter Berry, media spokesman for Elections Ontario, it was a transposition error. As an accountant, albeit retired, I know from my experience of balancing the books, that transposition errors are fairly easy to spot. How? Because they are always divisible by 9. The margin of 85 is not so divisible. I think we are looking at a combination or a comedy of errors.

Shahid Salam, Toronto

Let’s not pat ourselves on the back for a “real breakthrough” for female politicians because they are women. Women don’t run for office because they are women. They run because they believe they are capable of bringing about change. It is not a breakthrough that others recognize a person’s capability and leadership. That is the point of democracy.

The advance is that women believe themselves capable and are moved to action because of that conviction. And let us hope that they were voted in because others believed they were capable, and not because they were women.

Amanda van Halteren, Richmond Hill

I read NDP MPP Gilles Bisson’s comments about the NDP’s Ontario election campaign being a “success.” It was also clear that he is continuing to support the party leader.

I can tell him as an NDP member my entire adult life that things are not at all well. This NDP member has cancelled his monthly contributions to the Ontario NDP. In addition to this modest annual amount of $120, I have also not contributed to the campaign this time around. In the past I usually contributed $300-$500 each campaign.

I would also mention that Jack Layton wrote the Foreword to my book “Poverty in Canada.” Funny, that word “poverty” or for that matter “precarious employment” or “unfairness” or “social justice” or “union” never emanated from the NDP leader’s mouth nor was found in any NDP document or statement during this campaign.

Every single person I know — including most of the literally 1,200 health studies students that I teach at York University each year — shares my views. Most students are appalled at the direction that Ontario has been taken during the past 20 years. Yet they see nothing in NDP words or actions that would lead them to support the party.

The long and the short of it is that, like me, they have greater respect for Kathleen Wynne than for Andrea Horwath, see Kathleen Wynne as more sensitive to issues of inequality and poverty than Andrea Horwath, and are unwilling to support the NDP as it offers no vision or hope for the future. The NDP also shows no respect for the intelligence or caring nature of Ontario residents.

Until Andrea Horwath is gone, this NDP member will retain his card for the minimum amount — for its concurrent membership in the federal party — but certainly will not do anything else. I also will point out to my thousands of students and numerous colleagues and friends that while historically, social democratic parties of the left have proven beneficial for dealing with issues of inequality and poverty and promoting a more equitable society, this certainly does not apply to the Ontario NDP as it is currently organized and led.

Dennis Raphael, Professor of Health Policy and Management Graduate Program Director, Health Policy and Equity, York University

Voodoo economics it was. They tried to fool Ontarians with it. Doesn’t the party understand that Ontarians cannot be fooled twice. The Harris government left a long-lasting footprint after selling the government’s cash cows to private enterprises.

My suggestion to the PC party is to have a mathematically viable and acceptable platform by enlisting the services of ex-economist Paul Summerville. The mathematically bizarre plan created an exodus of votes towards the ambiguous Liberal and NDP seats.

Art Malik, Richmond Hill

I hope this vote sends a clear message to all politicians across the country: citizens expect cooperation regardless of party affiliation once elected. No party has the one and only solution to the many economic and social challenges facing the provinces and country.

We expect our children to cooperate, respect each other and listen. Why are politicians exempt from similar behaviour?

Judy Cathcart, Flesherton

As someone involved in placing election poll stories into the newspaper for many years I must say I am appalled by the state of political polling in this country. Suspect methodology, irrelevant if not asinine questions and vapid interpretations by self-proclaimed analysts whose views are then foisted on an unsuspecting public via naive media.

Thus we get “too close to call,” or “cliffhanger” or “dead heat” in the provincial election race when in fact the margin of error in the polls could have easily been interpreted as a Liberal majority.

The Star and other news organizations should save some money by killing these ridiculous surveys and re-direct the funds into something more rewarding — real reporting.

Alan Christie, Toronto

Why would any political party ever pay for a poll again?

Roger Hudson, Brampton

The provincial election makes me proud. We chose to give a majority government that will look to the future and remind us of how good Canadians and Ontarians are. We care about the future, jobs and children. We don’t want to leave people behind and we chose a premier who won’t. Together we did that. Yay!

Kathy Gallagher Ross, Toronto

The Ontario Liberal campaign frustrated many anti-poverty advocates. While Kathleen Wynne promised new spending, there was virtually nothing for those who live in deepening poverty. Our frequent demands for a substantial increase to ODSP and Ontario Works rates were ignored. During the leaders’ debate, Wynne proudly reminded listeners twice that Ontario has the lowest social spending in Canada. Ontario’s growing income gap got no attention.

This kind of austerity talk, when coupled with Wynne’s victory speech of “inclusion” and “leaving no one behind” shows the contradictions of the Liberal agenda.

Wynne’s commitment to increase taxes on high income earners is a good start, but Ontario needs higher corporate taxes, a commitment to lift people on social assistance above the poverty line and a $14 minimum wage.

Helen Armstrong, Toronto

You could almost feel the sense of relief in the air. The majority victory posted by Kathleen Wynne and her Ontario Liberals can only be interpreted as an overwhelming repudiation of right-wing populism.

Ontario’s voters clearly wanted a government with a progressive and forward-thinking agenda, not a return to the destructive, short-sighted cuts and chaos of the Mike Harris years.

Ontarians have made a very wise choice.

Andrew van Velzen, Toronto

Now that he needs one, maybe Hudak’s election plan should have been called “Million and One Jobs.”

John Purvis, Colborne

So we will now have the Ontario premier with 38 per cent of the popular vote butting heads with the prime minister and his 39 per cent of the vote, each claiming a “clear and strong majority” mandate to speak on behalf of the province and country.

Our electoral system is a farce. No wonder so many citizens see no point to casting a ballot.

Bill Gillies, Oakville

I was disappointed that you felt it necessary to mention Kathleen Wynne’s sexual orientation once again. Who cares? Why do we need to know that? Does it affect how she does her job? I think not.

Jim Flanagan, Markham

By electing the Liberals, Ontario has just served a notice to the rest of the country. People are no longer willing to listen to those politicians who have been promising heaven on earth for free.

For years the politicians have been telling voters they could fix the country’s problems by eliminating deficits, cutting taxes, and reducing the government size.

Kathleen Wynne departed from that notion by promoting a role for the government in resolving the province’s challenges. She showed that if both the message and the messenger are credible, people would be willing to listen.

The message was simple enough: the issues of the future of Ontario are too big to be ignored by the political leadership. She put forward a bold agenda highlighted with a public pension plan, wage hikes for the poor, and plans dealing with the gridlock.

The voters embraced the Liberals’ plan willing to give a rest to the past scandals.

Ali Orang, Richmond Hill

As party leaders by turns crow, whine or fall on their swords, the strongest message from this election continues to go unmentioned. A voter turnout of 52 per cent combined with 39 per cent of ballots cast means that the government has the approval of only 20 per cent of the eligible voters in the province.

A majority government now has four years to act without the approval of the vast majority of the electorate. Worse, party discipline ensures that MPPs seldom represent the wishes of their constituents but vote largely on the direction of the unelected and unaccountable party back roomers who set policy on matters never presented during an election and denied meaningful debate in the legislature.

Yet we wonder why so many people don’t vote.

Paul Collier, Toronto

The Liberal romp to a majority government is only the second message from Ontario. The first message, that should go viral, is that Ontario voters elected a 61-year-old lesbian grandmother to lead them for the next four years. Regardless of one’s political views, Wynne’s win reinforces Canada’s reputation as a most tolerant nation.

William Bedford, Toronto

Ontarians and Canadians are wondering in spite of all scandals and baggage carried over from McGuinty era that the Liberals still won and with a majority too. Well, Canadians voted Stephen Harper as PM in 2006 after exposure of Liberal scandals and look what they have done to Canada with his leadership since then. Ontarians have voted smartly after lessons learned.

Salim Jaffer, Toronto

All the leaders pledged to get on with the business of making Ontario a better place to live. I humbly suggest that their first order of business should be an all-party promise to bring civil behaviour, decorum without finger pointing, yelling, stomping on desks, trashing personalities and grandstanding to our House of Government, which has sunk to a sad low as a House of partisan disorder and disrespect.

This simple pledge would go a long way to restoring the symbol of what we have just voted for. It should be the first order of business for the new Speaker to have the tools to enforce a code of reasonable behaviour — much like we all learned in kindergarten.

Don Graves, Burlington

Congratulations. Now, please, please deliver.

Deliver on clean, transparent, effective, civil governance. And deliver on the thoughtful progressive policies you promised. Show all Canadians that there is a viable alternative to Harper’s mean-spirited conservatism.

Jerry Ginsburg, Thornhill

It is a telling statistic when 29,153 of Tim Hudak’s constituents voted against him and only 21,446 voted for him. Likewise, the possible heir apparent to the PC leadership, Whitby-Oshawa’s Christine Elliott, saw 34,725 of her constituents vote to depose her against the 23,818 who voted in support of her.

Louis MacPherson, Bowmanville

What the pundits and Wynne’s rivals missed is that Ontario voters had already punished the McGuinty Liberals for their real or perceived transgressions by, first, giving McGuinty only a minority government and, secondly, by eventually forcing him from office.

In this light, focusing on the gas plant “scandals” as the PCs and NDP did was bound to be a failed tactic.

Chandra Teeluck, Markham

It appears as though Tim Hudak has accomplished, at least, some of his cherished goals. After the election, there are a few more people unemployed — Tom Lonng and his hot shot campaign strategy group, members of his transition team and, oh yes, a lot of failed candidates.

Sorry, forgot to include Hudak.

Ken Chevis, North York

While Wynne’s victory may be well deserved it is hardly a “resounding tribute to her political skill and own integrity.” Rather it is a resounding repudation of a far-right Progressive Conservative platform that could never have resonated with Ontario’s electorate.

In the end, fewer than 20 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots for the Liberals, many of them driven to do so out of fear rather than conviction.

To paraprase a memorable line from Argo, in this election there were only bad options and we have elected the best bad option available.

Jonathan Household, Chemin des Novalles, Switzerland

I am so very proud of us people of Ontario for making history. We elected the first woman premier with children and a gay partner. We have come a long way baby.

This lady has guts. She ran a most courageous campaign; carrying on her back 10 years of bad McGuinty baggage; a program so progressive that I cannot remember one moreso in the last 50 years, and also against a government in Ottawa full of contempt and road blocks for Ontario by Ontario federal ministers no less.

I take my hat off for the the fight fought against all comers and all odds by this courageous person, on our behalf.

Yes, what a gift it is to know that anyone (no matter the personal lifestyle choices) can win the confidence of the people and become premier of this beautiful Ontario. There is hope after all.

Tony Morra, Mississauga

Dear Miss Horwath: Resign! Then phone the Conservatives — they will be looking for a new leader. You’re a perfect fit. Goodbye.

George Borusiewich, Toronto

At my polling station, there were 20 elections staff and two of us casting ballots. Am I the only person who finds this staffing level excessive even for a taxpayer funded organization?

Linda Falconer, Toronto

There were a lot of people who ran in the Ontario Elections and didn’t win. They should be congratulated for trying to make a difference. Other folks lost too.

All those people who didn’t vote and told everyone around them that there is no point in voting because there was no choice. Man, you are the biggest loser of all.

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